Atheist Nexus2016-12-09T16:51:17ZAlex Barnhamhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AlexBarnhamhttp://api.ning.com:80/files/XxS6ekofqL0*PdAXl4Smn65ldcW9Fy8jPTK0x23LzlicWGTPXmaEOpBYRaeoKTFuJaVEDvmWjNKSvT9HRUH9XE4gZnAfrLhK/543535991.jpeg?xgip=345%3A191%3A281%3A281%3B%3B&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://atheistnexus.org/group/atheistnews/forum/topic/listForContributor?user=30oz66o95jnkx&feed=yes&xn_auth=noChurches descend into politicstag:atheistnexus.org,2016-11-18:2182797:Topic:27193842016-11-18T21:19:03.587ZAlex Barnhamhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AlexBarnham
<p>Simon Brown posted this, as he left five years with Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.</p>
<blockquote><p>…, I am especially saddened on a personal level by Trump’s <a href="http://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/there-he-goes-again-trump-repeats-attack-on-johnson-amendment">repeated promise</a> to repeal something called the “Johnson Amendment,” which was added to the federal tax code in 1954 thanks to the support of then-U.S. Sen. Lyndon Johnson (D-Texas). The…</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Simon Brown posted this, as he left five years with Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.</p>
<blockquote><p>…, I am especially saddened on a personal level by Trump’s <a href="http://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/there-he-goes-again-trump-repeats-attack-on-johnson-amendment">repeated promise</a> to repeal something called the “Johnson Amendment,” which was added to the federal tax code in 1954 thanks to the support of then-U.S. Sen. Lyndon Johnson (D-Texas). The amendment is intended to keep churches from endorsing or opposing candidates for office so that houses of worship do not turn into tiny political action committees that raise money for politicians.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/my-five-year-fight-against-the-religious-right" target="_blank">My Five-Year Fight Against The Religious Right</a></p>
<p>There goes the last line separating organized religion from politics. Maybe tRump will have himself declared divine, as ancient Roman emperors did.</p>
<p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-niC74mLdf5k/V5xJUkY53MI/AAAAAAABEZU/QSw5grVqBmIJGssiTzXdIXUl3WUOW1VKwCLcB/s640/god%2Bemperor.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-niC74mLdf5k/V5xJUkY53MI/AAAAAAABEZU/QSw5grVqBmIJGssiTzXdIXUl3WUOW1VKwCLcB/s640/god%2Bemperor.jpg?width=450" class="align-center" width="450"/></a><a href="http://montrealsimon.blogspot.com/2016/07/donald-trump-and-emperor-god.html" target="_blank">image source</a></p> Cyber jihadists attack Atheist groups on Facebooktag:atheistnexus.org,2016-08-13:2182797:Topic:27032252016-08-13T18:39:21.839ZAlex Barnhamhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AlexBarnham
<p class="block text-block"><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/KDXu4vtJnMkoGWQfIIElAUp2qT6iIgoJQcW6UZvgwz15yZth2ig69ZUXWWHmLVI4G9LvCtVUYnz4ypiqbs1H6ujBEMEU7Uji/facebookvsfreespeech2.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/KDXu4vtJnMkoGWQfIIElAUp2qT6iIgoJQcW6UZvgwz15yZth2ig69ZUXWWHmLVI4G9LvCtVUYnz4ypiqbs1H6ujBEMEU7Uji/facebookvsfreespeech2.jpg?width=450" width="450"></img></a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=%23facebookvsfreespeech" target="_blank">image source</a></p>
<p class="block text-block">This is an outrage!</p>
<blockquote><p class="block text-block">In February 2016, ten of the largest Arabic-speaking atheist groups, with a…</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="block text-block"><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/KDXu4vtJnMkoGWQfIIElAUp2qT6iIgoJQcW6UZvgwz15yZth2ig69ZUXWWHmLVI4G9LvCtVUYnz4ypiqbs1H6ujBEMEU7Uji/facebookvsfreespeech2.jpg"><img class="align-center" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/KDXu4vtJnMkoGWQfIIElAUp2qT6iIgoJQcW6UZvgwz15yZth2ig69ZUXWWHmLVI4G9LvCtVUYnz4ypiqbs1H6ujBEMEU7Uji/facebookvsfreespeech2.jpg?width=450" width="450"/></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=%23facebookvsfreespeech" target="_blank">image source</a></p>
<p class="block text-block">This is an outrage!</p>
<blockquote><p class="block text-block">In February 2016, ten of the largest Arabic-speaking atheist groups, with a total of about 100,000 members, have been deactivated for the same reason: heavy reporting campaigns that are organized by “cyber jihadist” fundamentalist Islamic groups, especially for the removal of any anti-Islamic group or page. In such coordinated campaigns, very large numbers of people, and possibly automated scripts, simultaneously file reports falsely claiming that a page, group, or personal account has violated Community Standards.</p>
<p class="block text-block">Representatives of AA-MENA <a target="_blank" href="https://www.change.org/p/mark-zuckerberg-stop-deleting-arab-atheists-and-seculars-groups-and-pages">petitioned</a> Mark Zuckerberg demanding that Facebook reactivate the removed groups. The petition was shared on most major atheist groups in the Arab world, the US, and the UK, and it has been supported by many prominent social media activism organizations such as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/AtheistAllianceInternational">Atheist Alliance International</a> and the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/exmuslims">Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain</a> .</p>
<p>AA-MENA has adopted <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=%23facebookvsfreespeech">#FacebookVSFreeSpeech</a> as the hashtag of its Facebook event, Atheism: Campaigning to regain the right to free speech within Facebook Pages.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.tremr.com/movements/facebook-facing-heavy-criticism-after-removing-major-atheist-pages" target="_blank">Facebook Facing Heavy Criticism After Removing Major Atheist Pages</a></p>
<blockquote><p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/KDXu4vtJnMmc*k1jEHMfPd7-TkSJHOHbHwjGHysduUGMBq5o1hjgbzESX0KrUWOMAPDILnAqLW40c1RyHhdxtYACKWsU-uPF/atheistallianceofmiddleeast.jpg"><img class="align-center" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/KDXu4vtJnMmc*k1jEHMfPd7-TkSJHOHbHwjGHysduUGMBq5o1hjgbzESX0KrUWOMAPDILnAqLW40c1RyHhdxtYACKWsU-uPF/atheistallianceofmiddleeast.jpg?width=300" width="300"/></a></p>
<p class="block text-block"><strong>The Alliance has three goals for the free speech campaign:</strong></p>
<p class="block text-block">1. Reactivate the pages that were removed due to intensive, unfounded reporting activities;</p>
<p class="block text-block">2. Convince Facebook to respect the rights of irreligious individuals and groups in the MENA region as well as respect the freedom of thought and expression; and</p>
<p class="block text-block">3. Convince Facebook to reform its standard procedures in collecting and addressing reports in a way that ensures a just evaluation of any alleged violation of Community Standards.</p>
<p class="block text-block"></p>
<p class="block text-block">For irreligious people of the MENA region, social media outlets—especially Facebook—have become the only platform that they can safely use to express their thoughts and opinions, share their stories, and come together without feeling threatened.</p>
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<p class="block text-block"><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/KDXu4vtJnMlSCNLFrdyWg5SI7DD7eCU7w60zO83DhLZJjxUoQEcfiBCGjiQ5RAq9D0cS-1U3UzaDuBSFuQVfbbjNQwmjA4L9/facebookvsfreespeech.jpg"><img class="align-center" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/KDXu4vtJnMlSCNLFrdyWg5SI7DD7eCU7w60zO83DhLZJjxUoQEcfiBCGjiQ5RAq9D0cS-1U3UzaDuBSFuQVfbbjNQwmjA4L9/facebookvsfreespeech.jpg?width=450" width="450"/></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=%23facebookvsfreespeech" target="_blank">image source</a></p> FABULOUS Article in US News!tag:atheistnexus.org,2016-01-08:2182797:Topic:26644502016-01-08T18:04:24.331ZAlex Barnhamhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AlexBarnham
<p><a href="http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/faith-matters/articles/2016-01-04/the-2016-race-privileges-religion?int=a39d09&amp;int=a60d09" target="_blank">Good Without God in 2016</a></p>
<p><br></br> Media should push back on the religious privilege in American politics.</p>
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/9DhwROeyJ5XbtctTcJQnoMyTo0A3F5LfHPD-sWERbj4ce2468aWqbeXIij9E*km07luAIlZu7C-quPxCCMEy5SpNEDSH9p-t/download.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/9DhwROeyJ5XbtctTcJQnoMyTo0A3F5LfHPD-sWERbj4ce2468aWqbeXIij9E*km07luAIlZu7C-quPxCCMEy5SpNEDSH9p-t/download.jpg" width="540"></img></a></p>
<p><span>Not a prerequisite for…</span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/faith-matters/articles/2016-01-04/the-2016-race-privileges-religion?int=a39d09&amp;int=a60d09" target="_blank">Good Without God in 2016</a></p>
<p><br/> Media should push back on the religious privilege in American politics.</p>
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/9DhwROeyJ5XbtctTcJQnoMyTo0A3F5LfHPD-sWERbj4ce2468aWqbeXIij9E*km07luAIlZu7C-quPxCCMEy5SpNEDSH9p-t/download.jpg" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/9DhwROeyJ5XbtctTcJQnoMyTo0A3F5LfHPD-sWERbj4ce2468aWqbeXIij9E*km07luAIlZu7C-quPxCCMEy5SpNEDSH9p-t/download.jpg" class="align-full" width="540"/></a></p>
<p><span>Not a prerequisite for public office.</span></p>
<blockquote><p>Now that news editors have assembled and disseminated their end-of-year lists – Top 10 of This, Worst 5 of That – I'd like to mention one of the Most Missed Stories of 2015: how religious privilege plays out in American politics. You can't escape it, and yet it is almost always escaped.</p>
<p>What I mean by religious privilege is the presumption that being a member of a Judeo-Christian faith is better than having no religion or being a nonbeliever. This is something the news media routinely and uncritically accept.</p>
<p>The results are predictable: Nonbelievers can't run for office as openly secular, which skews public policy on issues such as women's reproductive freedom and whether evolution is taught in school, and politicians compete with each other to broadcast their sanctimony.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This is well worth reading in its entirety, [<a href="http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/faith-matters/articles/2016-01-04/the-2016-race-privileges-religion?int=a39d09&amp;int=a60d09" target="_blank">here</a>] as it includes numerous examples of Republican clown car lunacy and links to great cartoons. The author, Robyn Blumner, is president and CEO of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason &amp; Science and project director of Openly Secular.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The Grateful Dead did a song titled <em>I may be going to hell in a bucket but at least I'm enjoying the ride.</em> This article alone has made the 2016 part of the ride better.</p> A straight up truth from Pope Frankie's mouth!tag:atheistnexus.org,2015-12-01:2182797:Topic:26581762015-12-01T23:47:56.443ZAlex Barnhamhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AlexBarnham
<p><strong>Pope says fundamentalism is 'disease of all religions'</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>Aboard the papal plane (AFP) - Pope Francis said fundamentalism is "a disease of all religions", including the Roman Catholic Church, as he returned from a three-nation tour of Africa in which he preached reconciliation and hope.</p>
<p>"Fundamentalism is always a tragedy. It is not religious, it lacks God, it is idolatrous," the Argentine pontiff told journalists on the plane back from the Central…</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>Pope says fundamentalism is 'disease of all religions'</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>Aboard the papal plane (AFP) - Pope Francis said fundamentalism is "a disease of all religions", including the Roman Catholic Church, as he returned from a three-nation tour of Africa in which he preached reconciliation and hope.</p>
<p>"Fundamentalism is always a tragedy. It is not religious, it lacks God, it is idolatrous," the Argentine pontiff told journalists on the plane back from the Central African Republic.</p>
<p>. . . "We Catholics, we have a few, even many fundamentalists. They believe they know absolute truth and corrupt others," he said, adding: "I can say this because this is my Church."</p>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<p>Unfortunately, "believing they know absolute truth" and "corrupting others" is also the mainstay of the entire Catholic religion. One simple case in point. When confronted with their misogyny, they claim they have no power to change their policies because they're directly based on god's will. If that's not the height of arrogance, hypocrisy and bad faith, I don't know what is.</p>
<p>He didn't mention, of course, that the only way to root out the disease is to root out the religions.</p> Valerie Tarico Interviews Chris Johnson, Creator of Atheist-Themed Book and Documentary Film, A Better Lifetag:atheistnexus.org,2015-08-30:2182797:Topic:26409242015-08-30T17:23:54.412ZAlex Barnhamhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AlexBarnham
<p>I hadn't run across the name Chris Johnson before reading this article from Alternet/Salon, but Johnson published <em>A Better Life</em> last year, a coffee table book in which he details the lives of various atheists. This year he released a film with the same title and it's being shown around the world.</p>
<p>The whole article is <a href="http://www.salon.com/2015/08/30/there_is_no_god_now_what_finding_meaning_in_an_atheist_world_partner/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>Some high…</p>
<p>I hadn't run across the name Chris Johnson before reading this article from Alternet/Salon, but Johnson published <em>A Better Life</em> last year, a coffee table book in which he details the lives of various atheists. This year he released a film with the same title and it's being shown around the world.</p>
<p>The whole article is <a href="http://www.salon.com/2015/08/30/there_is_no_god_now_what_finding_meaning_in_an_atheist_world_partner/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>Some high points:</p>
<blockquote><p>“Our public conversation about atheism is two dimensional,” says Johnson. “It’s time to open the next phase. For ten years we’ve talked about what we don’t believe in. The dialogue kicked off by the New Atheist movement was much needed, but after we strip away gods and superstition, what is left? How do we see ourselves and our lives and our relationships? That’s what we need to talk about next.”</p>
<p><br/> . . . he is keenly aware of the stereotypes that make atheists one of America’s least electable minorities: male, white, hyper-intellectual, hedonistic, untrustworthy, and living empty lives devoid of purpose and meaning. By contrast with the common image, Johnson’s documentary reveals a diverse tapestry of people who live in “a world without gods.”</p>
<p><br/> . . . Religion makes you worry about things for no reason–the concept of sin, etc. Or like all the money that gets put into opposing same sex marriage–and for what? To stop two consenting adults from being happy? <strong>It’s just crazy that people waste so much time on things that don’t affect them. When you strip away all of the unnecessary rules and worries, you can focus more on the things that really do matter in the short time that we have to be alive.</strong></p>
<p><br/> . . . Letting go of gods is just a starting point. A better life means embracing our sense of awe and wonder, our place in the universe and creating a new understanding of our most profound experiences—whether that is a glimpse of the night sky or an intimate relationship.</p>
</blockquote> Atheists Become More Visible and Vocal in Zambiatag:atheistnexus.org,2015-07-03:2182797:Topic:26188492015-07-03T17:58:07.777ZAlex Barnhamhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AlexBarnham
<p>Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. <a href="http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/igwe20150623" target="_blank">ieet.org</a>.</p>
<p></p>
<p><em>..Zambia is a very religious nation... officially declared a Christian nation by President Federick Chiluba in 1996.. Eighty seven percent of the population is Christian and only twelve percent profess other faiths. The number of non-believers is too low to measure. Apparently, Zambia is 100 percent religious and…</em></p>
<p>Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. <a href="http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/igwe20150623" target="_blank">ieet.org</a>.</p>
<p></p>
<p><em>..Zambia is a very religious nation... officially declared a Christian nation by President Federick Chiluba in 1996.. Eighty seven percent of the population is Christian and only twelve percent profess other faiths. The number of non-believers is too low to measure. Apparently, Zambia is 100 percent religious and theistic.</em></p>
<p><em>But recently, the country’s religious demography has begun to change. Atheists are leaving their closets and are starting to organise. Atheists in Zambia are becoming assertive and are making their voices heard. They are standing up and identifying as atheists in public. An atheist group has just been formed in Zambia and a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1612600862312573/">Facebook page has been created</a>. It is called the Atheists in Zambia. This group is the first of its kind in the country and signals a bright and promising future for freethought in this Southern African country.</em></p>
<p></p>
<p>Some important points -</p>
<p>#Organized atheism is a new phenomenon in Zambia.</p>
<p>#The internet has made organization and mobilization easier.</p>
<p>#There is pressure for atheists in Africa to remain in the closet, for family reasons and safety.</p>
<p>#Zambia is highly superstitious. Many believe in witchcraft.</p>
<p>#<em>Recently there have been reports of witch killing, the killing of Satanists, of albinos and the murder and mutilation of persons for ritual purposes</em>.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I find it inspiring that there are courageous people in places like Zambia, advocating for rational thought. In Africa, that's amazing.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p> Former Megachurch Pastor Convicted of Molesting his Sisters.tag:atheistnexus.org,2015-07-02:2182797:Topic:26171332015-07-02T19:56:49.540ZAlex Barnhamhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AlexBarnham
<p><a href="http://www.christiantoday.com/article/geronimo.aguilar.ex.megachurch.pastor.found.guilty.of.sexual.assault/57475.htm" target="_blank">Christianity Today.</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><em>"megachurch pastor Geronimo Aguilar, 45, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting his two sisters almost 20 years ago, who were only 13 and 11 years old at the time, according to the District Attorney's office in Fort Worth, Texas.</em>"</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Major points -</strong></p>
<p>*Aguilar…</p>
<p><a href="http://www.christiantoday.com/article/geronimo.aguilar.ex.megachurch.pastor.found.guilty.of.sexual.assault/57475.htm" target="_blank">Christianity Today.</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><em>"megachurch pastor Geronimo Aguilar, 45, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting his two sisters almost 20 years ago, who were only 13 and 11 years old at the time, according to the District Attorney's office in Fort Worth, Texas.</em>"</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Major points -</strong></p>
<p>*Aguilar founded the Richmond Outreach Center (ROC) in Richmond, Virginia.</p>
<p>*Aguilar stepped down in 2013 after being charged with aggravated sexual assault.</p>
<p>*Aguilar denies the charges.Aguilar admits to sexual affairs.</p>
<p>*Aguilar reported that he feels hurt, that he was charged with these offenses.</p>
<p>*Aguilar's church, "The Richmond Outreach Center" has changed its name to "Celebration Church and Outreach Ministry". <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_Outreach_Center" target="_blank">From Wikipedi</a>a, "<em>In September 2013, the ROC Board of Directors stated that “After our former pastor was arrested related to charges in Texas, the board of directors became aware of his multiple extramarital affairs with members of our church and community.” Furthermore, the board stated “This biblically disqualified him from the office of pastor and leadership of the ROC in any capacity. The board of directors is committed to providing godly leadership at all levels of ministry.</em>”</p>
<p>*As of 2009, ROC had more than 10,000 members in weekly attendance.</p>
<p>*The ROC has recovery programs and homes for the drug addicted, the homeless, former convicts, and battered women.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p> Norway Accuses Catholic Church of Fraud.tag:atheistnexus.org,2015-07-02:2182797:Topic:26171222015-07-02T19:29:16.176ZAlex Barnhamhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AlexBarnham
<p>We all know the Catholic Church is a fraud everywhere, and in many ways. It's nice to see they were caught with their financial pants down, instead of the other kind.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.newsinenglish.no/2015/06/30/catholic-church-appeals-reimbursement-claim/" target="_blank">NewsinEnglish.no</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><em><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">"Religious organizations in Norway can apply for and receive money based on their membership. The…</span></em></p>
<p>We all know the Catholic Church is a fraud everywhere, and in many ways. It's nice to see they were caught with their financial pants down, instead of the other kind.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.newsinenglish.no/2015/06/30/catholic-church-appeals-reimbursement-claim/" target="_blank">NewsinEnglish.no</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><em><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">"Religious organizations in Norway can apply for and receive money based on their membership. The Catholic Church received a total of NOK 105.4 million in 2014 after having registered 65,500 new members between 2010 and 2014. Of that, fully 56,500 members were registered using methods that are a matter of dispute."</span></em></p>
<p></p>
<p>I first read this info on <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/07/02/catholic-church-in-norway-owes-government-more-than-5-million-after-inflating-membership-numbers/" target="_blank">Hemant Mehta's website, The Friendly Atheist</a>. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Article Highlights-</p>
<p>*The diocese in Oslo was <a href="http://www.newsinenglish.no/2015/02/26/police-raid-catholic-diocese-in-oslo/" target="_blank">raided last February.</a></p>
<p>*Biship Bernt Eidsvig &amp; the diocese’s finance director were charged with fraud amounting to as much as NOK 50 million.</p>
<p>*The church is charged with scanning telephone catalogues for Polish and Spanish names, tracking down their resident registration numbers in Norway and then logging them as members of the church without their knowledge.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I used an online currency calculator to convert NOK Norwegian Kroner to dollars, and got 50million Kroners is roughly 6.3 million US $.</p>
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<p></p> Brother Kills Brother Over Ramadan Fastingtag:atheistnexus.org,2015-06-25:2182797:Topic:26145812015-06-25T20:38:14.798ZAlex Barnhamhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AlexBarnham
<p><a href="http://cdn.jewsnews.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/3ddaaffe3e6a497da45f57a3bc478bd3-463x309.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="http://cdn.jewsnews.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/3ddaaffe3e6a497da45f57a3bc478bd3-463x309.jpg?width=350" width="350"></img></a></p>
<p>Well, the religion of peace has shone its amity and kindness yet once again. Currently, it's Ramadan in the Muslim calendar. The month to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Mohammed. Or, as many of us think, the first time he had a grand mal seizure while having auditory and visual hallucinations. Nevertheless, Muslims of all stripes…</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn.jewsnews.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/3ddaaffe3e6a497da45f57a3bc478bd3-463x309.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.jewsnews.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/3ddaaffe3e6a497da45f57a3bc478bd3-463x309.jpg?width=350" width="350" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Well, the religion of peace has shone its amity and kindness yet once again. Currently, it's Ramadan in the Muslim calendar. The month to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Mohammed. Or, as many of us think, the first time he had a grand mal seizure while having auditory and visual hallucinations. Nevertheless, Muslims of all stripes commemorate this holy time of the year by fasting from sunup to sundown. There are exceptions for health and travelling, but by and large, it is considered to be a major deal for adult followers of Ole Moe.</p>
<p>And, apparently, a major deal it is to some. In the vicinity of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a dispute arose between two brothers. One accused the other of not taking seriously the admonition to abstain from food during this most holy period. The result? A rational discussion, about the pros and cons of abstaining from nutrition during daylight hours? Maybe a theological discussion regarding the various interpretations of the first of Mohammed's revelations? Hell no!</p>
<p>The younger brother slit the older one's throat with a kitchen knife. Older brother was pronounced DOA on the way to the hospital. Guess that'll teach the infidel bastard that Islam is serious about this shit.</p>
<p>Story <a href="http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1472054" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://sg.news.yahoo.com/argument-between-two-brothers-over-015838578.html?linkId=15111577" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> ‘Historic’ Ruling States That Abstinence-Only Sex Ed Isn’t Sex Ed - Ya Think???tag:atheistnexus.org,2015-05-14:2182797:Topic:26038472015-05-14T18:26:15.419ZAlex Barnhamhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AlexBarnham
<p>OK, so <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/05/13/3658139/california-judge-abstinence-only/?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=tptop3" target="_blank">this</a> isn't strictly speaking atheist news, but it could be a small bite out of religious idiocy.</p>
<blockquote><p>In a decision that’s being hailed as “historic,” a judge in California has ruled that health classes focusing exclusively on telling students to remain abstinent until marriage fall short of…</p>
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<p>OK, so <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/05/13/3658139/california-judge-abstinence-only/?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=tptop3" target="_blank">this</a> isn't strictly speaking atheist news, but it could be a small bite out of religious idiocy.</p>
<blockquote><p>In a decision that’s being hailed as “historic,” a judge in California has ruled that health classes focusing exclusively on telling students to remain abstinent until marriage fall short of the state’s comprehensive sex ed requirements.</p>
<p><br/>In his opinion, Fresno County Superior Court Judge Donald Black concludes that, given the high rates of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy in the U.S., medically accurate sexual health information is “an important public right.”</p>
<p><br/>Black’s decision narrowly applies to about 40,000 students who attend the Clovis Unified School District. However, since his opinion represents the first-ever ruling on California’s decade-old sex education standards, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) — whose legal counsel represented the plaintiffs in the suit — believes it sets an important precedent for the rest of the state.</p>
<p><br/>“This is the first time that abstinence-only-until-marriage curricula have been found to be medically inaccurate,” Phyllida Burlingame, the director of reproductive justice policy at the ACLU, told the San Francisco Chronicle. She added that the ruling should send a strong message to other schools that “young people need complete, accurate health information required by law.”</p>
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